But even I knew there were so many factors that could alter an otherwise steady course. And by allowing myself to even think about all the negative situations that could happen in the fickle business I chose to be in, as my heart rate spiked and my gut clenched, I knew that I had just answered all those questions she’d instigated.
What would happen to us?
The rest of our ride seemed normal, yet a tension remained. And after we’d gotten to my apartment and made love, Alivia hadn’t mentioned our conversation in the car and neither had I. Still, it hung heavy in my thoughts. She’d never know it.
As my band and I sat in Alec’s SUV, heading for the party, I plastered on a smile. When we were shown to the freight elevator where we loaded up our instruments and gear, I laughed and joked as I always would. No one would know Alivia’s concerns had flipped a switch within me that now fucked me up. If I knew my girlfriend well, this would fester, and I’d constantly need to defend my choices from here on in.
Meanwhile, my bandmates foamed at the mouth because of the night before us. Held on the top floor of one of the newest high-rise buildings on the Hudson River, apparently this party was the place to be.
Even my parents had heard about it in their circle and knew details I didn’t even know. For obvious reasons, I kept that information to myself. Telling the three jackasses the latest swimsuit cover model was scheduled to attend would make it even harder to keep them in line. As it was, I had to keep reminding them we had a job to do. We were getting paid to play… not to drool over the females and not to hook up in a bathroom, only to get thrown out.
Just before we reached the penthouse, I turned to my three friends. “Can you pretend to be house-trained?”
“Ha ha, you’re hilarious,” Chase said as the other two rolled their eyes. “Can you pretend to be an eighteen-year-old?”
“Calm down… I’m kidding.” I wasn’t. The doors opened in a long hallway where Denzel Washington’s doppelgänger came forward to greet us, forcing us all to do a double take.
“No Rulz?”
When his eyes landed on me, I said, “That’s us.”
“I’m Reed… Mr. Parson’s personal assistant.”
Joey pointed a finger at him. “You look just like—”
“I know,” Reed said with an amused smile. “Which one of you is Donna’s son?”
Harrison lifted his hand. “That’d be me. I’m Harrison. These are my friends, Shane, Chase, and Joey.”
He shook our hands one by one while saying, “Great to have you boys here.” He again addressed his next question to me. “Shane Lair, right?”
“Yep.” Here we go. Maybe Harrison’s mom wasn’t really the one responsible for this gig.
“I know your aunt Lori,” he said with a smile. “In fact, she and Cannon are supposed to be attending tonight.”
Three sets of eyes stared as I shrugged like it was news to me. “Really? I didn’t know that.” The dude was cool, and yeah, I liked Cannon because he was with Lori and all that, but there was something about him that irked me. Alivia always teased it was because I was jealous; now I wondered if she truly believed that. “Is he performing?”
“Nope. They are here as guests. A last-minute thing, so you’ll have two familiar faces in the crowd.”
“How many people are attending?” Joey asked.
“About a hundred… give or take.” Reed glanced over the equipment we had pulled out of the elevator. “Is this all of it?” On our nods, he said, “Perfect. I’ll show you where to set up.” We followed him with our instruments in tow. “I heard your demo tape. You guys are good.”
“Thanks,” a few of us said at the same time.
We came to the end of the long hall, and Reed pushed open and held a huge metal door for us that led behind a darkened backstage area. Along the rooftop, food stations lined the perimeter and bars had been set up in the corners. Tall tables were scattered around a dance area that faced the stage. The place could easily hold the number Reed claimed was attending.
“Let me know if you guys need anything,” Reed said while we took in the view. My parents’ penthouse faced the east, but I preferred this view of the George Washington Bridge and Jersey.
“Suddenly, I’m nervous,” Harrison admitted. “We can’t fuck this up, guys. I don’t want my mom getting flack.” Who the hell was he talking to? Surely not me. I remained silent, waiting for the other two to concede.
“We’re not fucking anything up. After this night, we’re going to be inundated with gigs.” Again, I saw right through Chase’s interest in playing. Just as I was about to challenge that comment, he confirmed his motive. “And that means chicks galore.”
Such an idiot.
Ignoring him, I’d begun setting up my place center stage when I heard, “Shane.” As I twisted, I saw Lori and Cannon and abandoned my task to hop off the stage to where they stood.
“Reed just told me you were coming tonight. Does my mom know?”
Lori and Cannon exchanged a glance. “No… she doesn’t. We’re here with Cannon’s guys… I’ll explain later. We want to talk to you.”
“Me?”
Lori nodded. “Will your friends be upset if we drive you home once you’re done?”
I flicked my attention to where they were setting up their instruments. “They’ll be fine with it,” I admitted, knowing they’d appreciate the cockblocker leaving so they could get it on with the chicks.
“Okay. Have a good set. We’ll see you later.”
Cannon took Lori’s hand, but before they walked away, I asked, “Aunt Lori, is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes, sweetie. It’s all good.” She threw me a wink and left me standing there even more confused than ever.
Lori was a speak-her-mind kind of person. She’d started out by representing my mom’s former band when Mom joined Devil’s Lair. After Lori had left New Jersey for Los Angeles, she’d become an agent to Cannon, one of the hottest solo rock stars in the world. They’d ended up in a romantic relationship, which had cost Lori her job. That had been when Mom and Dad had lost their patience with the record label that employed them all. Mom and Dad fired their agent, Jen, who had also been Lori’s boss. They then left the label and started JLL Productions.
Mom had later told me that Lori and Trey had been a thing at one time. Alivia knew that little tidbit as well. Although Lori had fallen hard for Trey, he hadn’t been at the same place as she’d been and had ended it before Devil’s Lair left on their first national tour.
It all turned out in the end, but again I had to wonder what would’ve been if Trey wasn’t such a slut back then and had instead opened his heart to love Lori. Or worse… if he and Camilla hadn’t fallen in love when Alivia was a little girl.
For one thing, I wouldn’t have been in love with my idol’s daughter, still wanting to be just like him… a great bass player, a doting father and husband, a man who fought for what he believed in. All great attributes for me to aspire to. It was the bad decisions Trey had made over the years that pinched at new insecurities I suddenly worried about… a domino effect because of the insinuation of regrets that Alivia mentioned.